Celebrating Five Years of Olivia Rodrigo’s Debut Album: SOUR

By Kaitie Harper

Five years ago on May 21, singer/songwriter Olivia Rodrigo released her debut album, SOUR.   At only 18 years-old, Rodrigo reached commercial success with the release of SOUR, launching her career. The album topped charts in several countries and became one of the best selling albums of 2021.  SOUR became the first debut album to reach two number one debuts on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also had the biggest opening week by a female artist, breaking Spotify’s global record.  Rodrigo became a well known artist even winning Artist of The Year at the 64th Grammy Awards.

 

While creating the album, Rodrigo took inspiration from genres and artists she was fond of, making SOUR a blend of alternative pop, bedroom pop, and pop rock.  Between angsty pop-rock tracks like “brutal”, “good 4 u”, and “jealousy, jealousy” and heartfelt ballads like “traitor”, “enough for you”, and “favorite crime” Rodrigo created the perfect soundtrack to every teenage girl’s life, especially heartbreak.  Below is a track by track review through heartbreak, self-discovery, and the emotional rollercoaster of SOUR.

 

1.“brutal”

“brutal” opens the album with the pop-rock angst Rodrigo is well known for.  The track covers the misleading idea of our “golden years” as they often feel like the worst years of our lives.  With themes of insecurity, self-loathing, societal expectations, and challenging disappointment, “brutal” kicks off many of the themes throughout SOUR and is easily relatable to anyone going through this phase of their life.

 

2. “traitor”

The second track “traitor” is an emotional ballad that delves into heartbreak and betrayal.  The song showcases Rodrigo’s vocal abilities and emotional depth within her lyricism.  “traitor” reflects on a past relationship, and how the feelings of missing what was lost and anger coming from feelings of betrayal go hand in hand when reminiscing.

 

3. “drivers license”

The first single from SOUR, “drivers license” continues expressing heartbreak, longing, and reminiscing.  In the song, Rodrigo is open about being unapologetically still in love and her inability to move on from her former partner even after things have ended.  Rodrigo uses the concept of driving aimlessly as a metaphor for her struggle to move on and being stuck, “but today, I drove through the suburbs / ‘Cause how could I ever love someone else?…’cause you said forever, now I drive alone past your street.”

 

4. “1 step forward, 3 steps back”

“1 step forward, 3 steps back” samples Taylor Swift’s “New Year’s Day” melody, creating a melancholic track about navigating the ups and downs of an unstable relationship. The track highlights inconsistency, uncertainty, and the relationship makes Rodrigo question her own self-worth, “do you love me, want me, hate me? Boy, I don’t understand.”

 

5. “deja vu”

The second single, “deja vu” is an upbeat, whimsical sounding track. Rodrigo uses the concept of deja vu and recycled relationships to describe the feeling of watching someone you once loved move on with somebody new and do all the things you planned and used to do together. Rodrigo explains that she tried to paint a picture through the lyrics while writing,“I really love painting pictures with songs, so we’ve tried to be really vivid with the lyrics” (New Music Daily, Rodrigo).

 

6. “good 4 u”

“good 4 u” is the perfect soundtrack for when you’re angry after a breakup or fallout with somebody, especially when you see them doing better without you while you’re still stuck in the aftermath of them. The track brings back the pop-rock, angsty style which supports the lyrics well. Rodrigo uses sarcasm, and snide remarks to address how quickly her former partner moved on from their relationship. “good 4 u” is laced with pettiness and anger making it the perfect pick-me-up breakup anthem.

7. “enough for you”

“enough for you” is a sad, emotional track about giving your all to someone and changing yourself to better suit them, but the relationship feels one-sided. Rodrigo talks about the pain of doing everything for someone, comparing herself to and trying to be more than their past lovers, all for it to end the same. It has a hopeful undertone as she recognizes that in the end she will be enough for the right person, “Feel sorry for yourself, ‘cause someday I’ll be everything to somebody else.” “enough for you” is Rodrigo’s personal favourite song in her discography.

8. “happier” 

Though “happier” is a slow track, it holds the same pettiness and resentment as upbeat tracks like “good 4 u”. Rodrigo expresses the feeling of accepting what happened and wishing someone well but hoping they will never find better or be happier than they were with her. “I hope you’re happy, just not like how you were with me / I’m selfish I know, I can’t let you go / To find someone great, but don’t find no one better / I hope you’re happy, but don’t be happier.”

 

9. “jealousy, jealousy”

“jealousy, jealousy” delves into every teenage girl’s mind as it expresses insecurity, self-hatred, and comparison. Rodrigo writes about the struggle with comparing yourself to other people, not only your looks, but your life. Especially the effects of social media and societal expectations that become “the standard” because of it. “jealousy, jealousy” is sonically similar to “brutal” and “good 4 u”.

10. “favorite crime”

 

“favorite crime” is an emotionally vulnerable track as Rodrigo opens up to the part she plays in her own heartbreak by letting yourself be treated badly if it means being with this person. The song highlights feeling used and taken advantage of and giving everything to someone just to have it used against you to hurt you. Rodrigo also expresses difficulty moving on when you should hate somebody but can’t help but love them.

 

11. “hope ur ok”

Closing off with one of the most emotional tracks on the album, “hope ur ok” was written about some of Rodrigo’s old friends who she has now lost contact with. The song shares their stories and struggles and that though they no longer are in each other’s lives Rodrigo wishes them well and expresses both love and pride in who they are now. “We don’t talk much, but I’ve just gotta say, I miss you and I hope that you’re okay.”